[Peace-discuss] Kinzer: Surge Diplomacy, Not Troops, in Afghanistan

[Robert Naiman]

USA Today reports that Gen. McKiernan - top U.S. commander in
Afghanistan - "has asked the Pentagon for more than 20,000 soldiers,
Marines and airmen" to augment U.S. forces. McKiernan says U.S. troop
levels of 55,000 to 60,000 in Afghanistan will be needed for "at least
three or four more years." He added: "If we put these additional
forces in here, it's going to be for the next few years. It's not a
temporary increase of combat strength."

We should have a vigorous national debate before embarking on this
course. Contrary to what one might think from a quick scan of the
newspapers, there are knowledgeable voices questioning whether
increasing the deployment of U.S. troops to Afghanistan is in our
interest, or is in the interest of the Afghan people.

Bestselling author and former longtime New York Times foreign
correspondent Stephen Kinzer argues the opposite in this five minute
video...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/kinzer-surge-diplomacy-no_b_149364.html

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/12/8/15317/1502

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/38127

--
Robert Naiman
Just Foreign Policy
www.justforeignpolicy.org
naiman at justforeignpolicy.org

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